Improvement in heuometebs



CONRAD FRIEDRICH LUDWIG RISGH, oF HUNTINGBIIRG, INDIANA.

VLettere Patent No. 78,133, dated llfay 19, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN HELIOMETERS,

@tige rlntul referat ,In in tigen ettrr uttut mit making @nu tt tige same.

Bc it known that I, Comun Fnrnnnrou Lnnwre- RIsou, of Huntngburg, in the county of Dubois, and State4 e oi' Indiana, have invented a new and improved Heliometcr'; andI do hereby declare that the following is a ful-l, f clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and uscrthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming part of this specification.

Figure 1, Sheet I, represents a side elevation of my improved heliometer, showing its west side. Figure 2, Sheet I, is a plan or top view of the same. 'i r Figure 3, Sheet II, is an elevation of the east side of the same.

Figure 4, Sheet II,is a vertical sectional view of the same, the plane of section. being indicated by the line :c w, iig. 54

Figure 5, Sheet III, is an elevation of the south side of the same.' Figure 6, Sheet III, is ahorizontal sectional view of the same, the plane of section being indicated bythe line y y, fig. 5.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. By the use of this invention, the exact degree of latitude at which an observation 'is made can be ascertained; also, by the aid of a. suitable guide-hook, the date at which the observation is made, as well as the time I of day, and the angle formed by the rays of the sun, at noon of each day, upon the level or water-line.

With the aid of a small guide-hook, this instrument will be of great use and interest to all travellers, and l to all men who desire to study the h-igherbranches of geography. P It is made so that it can be used for every degree of latitude between the north and south poles, and will be of equal value at the equator as at Cape Horn, and in Iceland. i

The apparatus is set upon a stationary frame, A, which consists of a horizontal bed, and two upright posts or plates, a a.

Upon the hed are arranged a compass, b, and a level, c, as shown in iig. 5. In the posts a are the hearings for a horizontal axle, B, upon which a semi-cylindrical blocl, C, is mounted, between the posts, as shown. I i 'Rhenpper face of this 'block, C, is covered with a square plate, D, from the east and westsides of which plates E and F are respectively suspended, said plates being on the outside of the posts t a, and 'connected by the axle'B with the b lock C, as is clearly shown in iig. 6.

The plates E and F are both a little larger than semic'ircular, as shown in figs. 1 and 3, the circles being 'struck from the axis B as centre. 4 y Upon the frame A are formed, on its east and west sides, small concave plates, cl and e', respectively, which lit around part of the curve of the plates E `and F, as shown in gs. 1 and 3, the curves on d and e corresponding to those on Eend F. y

The plate D is provided with a pin or gnomon, f, projecting vertically from its centre, as shown in gs. 1 and 2. l

The shadow oi' the same falls upon the face of the disk D', and indicates 'thereon the time of day, the necessary dial being for the purpose marked, and formed on the plate D'. i

As the shadow of the sun describes a full circle upon the dial during each astronomical day, and as this shadow turns in opposite directions on the northern and southern hemispheres, two rows of gures have been marked on the dial D, in opposite directions, as is clearly shown in iig. 2, thereby adapting the apparatus to .both the northern and southern hemispheres. f I i /f i A small revolving dial, G', isarranged around the gnomon f, within or upon theuplate D. Its edge -isdivided into twenty-four parts, like the dial. The inner corresponding edge of the outer dial is divided into three hundred and sixty parts, to indicate the meridians, and thus, by the aid of the revolving dial G, thedif fere'nce in the time of day between an'y two places on the globe can 'be ascertained. I

.In the south and north sidesof the block C are, in each, semi-cylindrical Adepressions H and H, respeetively, eachhaving agnomon, g, which is parallel with the gnomonf, as is clearly shown in figs. 4, 5, and 6.

These depressions-are the dials for-winter-time for both hemispheres, that on the north side-of` the apparatus being for the southern hemisphere, and that onthe south side for the northern hemisphere.

Upon the fac'e of the plate E, on the east side of' the apparatus, iig- 3, are drawn two triangles, which are both of equal form or shape.

They are both divided into' equal parts by a straight line, i, which ris parallel with the surface of' the dial. This line hrepresents the equator.

The angle of each triangle at the ends' of the equator-is forty-seven degrees, z'. e., twenty-three and-a half degrees on either side of the equator.

The line opposite tothe angle at the end of the' equator is a curve, or part of a circle, struck from the end of the equator, as shown. f

The edge ofthe plate E is partly or wholly surrounded by a sheet-metal flange, z', in which, at eaclrendot `the equator, h, a small h cle or slot, 7', is cut, yas shown.

When the apparatus has been set to any certain degree of latitude, so that the block Ois set at the required `angle, the rayof the sun, which falls though the slotfat noon of each day, falls uponthat degree on the ycurve (which is struck' from that point at which the ray enterslabovc which the sun stands perpendicular. The hole j, at the south side of the apparatus, and the triangle starting from it,arcused during observations .gn the northern hemispherawhilethe opposite hole, j, and its triangle, are dsed for observations upon the south- .ernlhernisphera I The small curved plate, ai, below the plate E, is provided with a table showing the longest day. `A. pointer, K, at the plate E, shows upon 1t the longest day at any degree of latitude.

The west plate, F, is divided, around its semicircular edge, intoetie hundred and eighty degrees. A pointer, Z, is secured to the curve 'e in a ,direct vertical line below the axis B, as .shown in fig. 1. l

This vpointershowson the plate at what angle the apparatus isfto he set for a certain degree.

In iig. ltheapparat'us isfset for oe'oi` the poles, but by turning it it may be set to any degree.

The curve e is divided into thirty-one..degrees, on each side ofthe pointerl. The Yspace occupied by these .thirty-one degrees is equal to that occupied` by thirty degrees on the edge of the plate F, for the purpose of' .enabling greater exactness in the setting of the plate.

When'the apparatus is to be used in any known degree of latitude, the block C is turned until the pointer l covers, on the plate F, that degree of northern or southern latitude from which observations are .to bemade.

Thesun-dial is then, also, at the proper inclination, that is, if the apparatus has been adjusted in accordance with the compass and level.

The plateE is then,'a.lso, in the right position toA show the length of day, and the degree in the torrid zone above which the sun stands. Y' Y By the aid of u little'table, the degree of latitude can by this apparatus be' found, if the date is known, and vz'ae versa.

Such a. table would contain the following:

On the 21st of April the sun stands vertical above 0 28', northern latitude. ,On the'22d of April, 0 54', north latitude.

On the 23d of April, 1 18', north latitude.

On the 24th of April, 1 40', north latitude. v

On the 25thy of April, 2 40', north latitude.

On th'e21st of June, 23 30', north latitude.

On the22d of December, 23 30', north latitude.

on the plate E.

- The hand Z will then show, on the plate F, under what degree of latitude the observation is taken.

The opposite course should be pursued to find the date, if the latitude isknown. l l m is a small set-screw, to clamp the plate E'or F, or either, and, with the same, the block'C, in any desired position tothe stationary frame. I l i A table, to show the variations of the sun-dial with a correct clock, and the v needle, should be added to the instruction-book C. d

To the under Aside of the block O may be secured a dr instruction-book, instruments, dto., (scog. 4.)

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A heliometer, constructed and arranged to' operato in the ina-nners herein shown and described. 2.V JThe plate E, when arranged as herein shown and described and when provided with a bination with the curve d on the stationary frainovA, all made as setiforth. 3. The plate F, when arranged as set forth, in combination with the curve E ary frame A,'all made and operating substantially as herein shown and described awer or shelf', I, which serves as a receptacle, foi-,the

pointer,-K, in comand pointer Z, on the stations ariations oi' the magnetic 4. The sun-dial H, on the revrol'vngl block C, when. combined with the Vplantes E and F,`a.1l mede und perating substantially asheren shown and described.

5. The sun-dial D and gnomonf, in combinatie Y g, all made as described. Y n

' 6. The mnner heren'sbown and described of making, dividing, and arrngngvthe plate E.

' CONRAD F- LUDW. RISCH.

n xvitb the semi-cylindrical dials H andH, nnd'thehp gnomons. v

Witnesses:`

CASPER H. TADRANK, F. A. GRAnmz. 

